Extensible wagon-reach.



Patented Apr. :7, I900.

-P Q g B M N HE 2; l l nv Q (N0 Model.)

Wzlqassa s [TED STATES I PATENT O FICE.

WILLIAM L. STOTTS, OF ROZETTA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ELBERT H. RANKIN, OF STRONGHURST, ILLINOIS.

EXTENSIBLE WAGON-REACH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 647,768, dated April 17, 1906.

Application filed a ua y ze, 190i). Serial No. 2 ,732. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. Sro'r'rs, a citizen of the United States, residing at B0- 'zetta, in the county of Henderson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensible lV-agon- Reaches,- of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and from complicated parts, which can be short- 1 ened and lengthened quickly and which can be manufactured at a very low cost.

A further object is to provide a wagon reach made of two parts pivotally connected together and constructed so that one part may be folded up against the other part when it is not in use.

With these and other ends in view the invention consists, primarily, in providing an extension for an ordinary wagon -reach which is pivotally connected with the reach proper in the manner hereinafter specifically described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is 'a side elevation of so much of a wagon as is necessary to show the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the reach, showing the same in its extended position. Fig. 3 is a detailed side view of the end of the reach, showing the extension thereof. Fig. 4- is a sectional View showing the extension folded under the end of the reach proper. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig 6 is a top plan view showing the connection between the reach proper and its extension.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures, A designates the front wheels, B the rear wheels, and C the ordinary reach proper, of a wagon,

these parts being coupled up in the usual manner commonly employed. 7

The reach proper is of a length adapted to accommodate an ordinary wagon-box, and it is provided at its rear end with an extension D of any desired length, thisextension being the slot H of the extension when said extension is arranged in the position shown in Fig. 2 as a prolongation of the reach proper. The

' forward end of the link is provided with a projection J, which is adapted to bear upon a pin K and cooperate with the beveled edges L in preventing the extension from breaking joint when extended and maintaining the same rigidly in a horizontal position as an elongation of the reach proper. To further insure the maintenance of the extension in its extended position, I secure a plate M in the slot F at the rear end of the reach proper,which plate is provided with a projection N, which engages a lug O on one side of the link. It will therefore be noted that in order to maintain the extension D in proper position as an elongation of the reach proper, O, I preferably provide beveled edges L on the adjacent ends of the reach proper and the extension, the projection J on the link which engages the pin K, and a plate M, provided with the projection N to engage a pin 0 on the link, which three devices cooperate in maintaining the extension in proper position when extended. On the rear end of the extension I provide a hooked plate P, which is adapted to engage and rest upon the rear axle when a long coupling is desired, in the manner shown in Fig. 1, or rest between the axle and the reach proper when the extension is folded to provide a shorter coupling, as shown in Fig.4. It will therefore be observed that when a long reach is desired the extension D will be turned up into position to constitute an elongation of the reach proper, C, the hooked plate P resting upon and engaging the rear axle and the hounds-pin Q passing through thehole R manufactured very inexpensively, and it can in the reach proper; but when it is desired'to shorten upthe reach for the purpose of putting on a wagon-box or simply for the purpose of coupling up the running-gear shorter or for any other reason the king-pin is removed, the

rear wheels and hounds U moved forward in the reach proper to permit the ;exte nsionj l )1 to be folded up under the reach'proper, as

shown in Fig. 4', with the hookedend of the plate P fitting in the recess S, after whiohthe rear wheels and-hounds are moved backward a short distance until therear axle is located" under the plate:P,-.as. shown, and the parts are fastened in the position shown by broken linesin Fig. 1 by arranging the hounds-pin Q in a forward hole in the reach proper. It

'willthus be observed that by the use of, my

improved wagon-reacli'l am able to; shorten or lengthen the reach quickly and-without manipulation of any complicated parts -or' mechanism. This improved reach can be be adapted to. wagons already manufactured,

as well as those which may be hereafter manufactured. Furthermore, the-invention is so very-simple that it can be manipulated by any one without specialskill or experience, and the changes can be made expeditiously as occasion requires. It will-also-be observed that when the reach is extended or ;elongated.by the elevation of the extension D there are'no projecting parts beyond the faces of the reach which .would interferein any way with the loading or unloading of the.

WflgQI1-0rfin any other way presentanobstruction on the face of the reach.

.As. generally constructed running -.gea rs which are adapted for icarrying'wagon beds I .or boxes usually have the reach terminateiso that itwill not extend behind the box, and

for this reason the running-gear cannot be lengthened in any way; but by the use of my- :improve'dreach theextension can be turnedup togforman elongation of the reach proper and? the rear wheels. moved backward to correspondingly lengthen the couplingof 'th e i'unningrgear. I

My lnvention is particularly useful when it is desired to use therunning-gear for carryingan ordinarywagon bed or box, when the. coupling would. be of the usu-allength, .or

forfdispensing with the bed or box, so that thecoupling may be lengthened to accommodate a long hay-rack, or lumber or iron material may be arranged directly onthe runing-gear. Itis also useful toenable running gear used for. carrying lumber, &c., to be shortened when it has no load to facilitate themovementofthe running-gear. It will also be observed that whenthe extension is folded it is fully protected'by the reach proper and is wholly out of the way, soithat it will .not in any way interferewith loading orunloading the wagon-box, and in thisfoldedposition it is securely held in place byyreason of the fact that the plateP is. held between .thcaxle and'the reach proper. The peculiar :sionto the. reach scribed.

manner inwhich the linkis arranged also permits of the extension being folded under the reach proper and forward of its rear end,

so that the extension will be entirely out of the way.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, wllatlclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1 The combination with a wagon-reach proper, of an extension at the rear end thereof and a link connection between said extension and the reach proper, substantially as ,tdesc-ribed. 2. The combination with a wagon-reach proper, .of an extension, a link connecting said-extension:= to the reach proper, and pro- ;vided with.a pin on ons-side thereof, and a plate on the reachproper provided with a projection adapted to engagethepin on the link, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a wagon-reach proper, of an extension pivotally-connected .to. the. end of saidrea'ch proper, and adapted to. be folded under the samewhen-notin use,

substantially as described.

. 6. The;c,ombination with. awagon reach proper, of an extension :pivotally connected tothe reach propenand provided with a hooked plate on .its outer end, substantially as de- 7. The combination with a .wagon reach proper, of an extension,adapted toform an elongation of :the reach proper, and a link de- [vice connecting the extension to the reach proper and located wholly-:within the faces ofthe'reach proper and said extension, substantially as described. 7 8. The combination with a wagon-reach proper, of an extension adapted to form an elongation of said reach proper, a link pivotally. connecting the extension. to the reach proper and operating within slots therein,

saidlink being'provided with a projection on iitsforward. end toengage a pin in the extension-and having a pin projecting from one of its sides, and a plate secured within the slot. .atthe'rear end of the reach proper andpro- -vided with a projection on its end adapted to engage the pin on the link, substantially as described. a a n 9. The combination with the reachproper,

and the rear axleof arunning-gea-r, of apivoted extension on said reach proper, and a hooked :plate on said extension adapted to .rest upon and engage said rear axle'when the extension is extended to form an elongation sion tothe reach proper, whereby the extenof the reach proper and lie between the reach sion may be folded under the reach proper 1o proper and the rear axle when the extension and back from the end thereof when not in is folded, substantially as described. use, substantially as described.

5 10. The combination with a wagon-reach WILLIAM L. STOTTS.

and an extension thereof provided with slots Witnesses: in their adjacent ends, of a link having its WILLIAM M. WHITEMAN,

. ends secured in said slots to pivot the exten- A. P. MCHENRY. 

